A US Senator lambasted Canada on Wednesday for its “feeble” defence spending, at one point suggesting the country should be “put at the kids table.”
Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan made the comments while speaking at the Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Sullivan was speaking with a nominee to become the US head of NORAD, Lt. General Guillot.
NORAD, which stands for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, is a bi-national organization between the United States and Canada.
“The Wall Street Journal on July 12 had an editorial entitled ‘Canada is a military free rider in NATO’,” Sullivan said.
“And it goes on to talk about Ottawa’s feeble commitment to the alliance, at the Vilnius Summit, they should have been put at the kids table.”
Sullivan said that he wanted those comments to be on the record, and added that Canada “is not even close to its 2% [NATO] commitment.”
He further claimed it was common knowledge that Trudeau was trying to “water down” his promises.
Sullivan then asked Guillot if he would speak to Canada about their commitment shortcomings. Guillot said that he would.
Before he was through speaking, Sullivan took one more shot at Canada’s defence spending.
“They’re not very good at paying for missile defense either, even though we protect the whole continent,” he said.
Leaked reports
In April, leaked intelligence documents suggested that Canada’s military woes are “widespread,” and Trudeau knows NATO commitments won’t be met.
The documents were reported on by The Washington Post after an alleged member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested by the FBI for leaking sensitive US Intelligence documents.
The leaked document stated that “Widespread defense shortfalls hinder Canadian capabilities,” and these shortcomings are “straining partner relationships and alliance contributions.”
Capacity issues
Canada’s Defense Minister Anita Anand acknowledged last year that the Canadian Armed Forces had
capacity issues, and about 10% of the CAF positions were unfilled amid recruitment woes.
